Julie Ludwig, Larimore, N.D., letter: Thanks, GF, for leading on ‘smoke-free’ issues

LARIMORE, N.D. — Once again, Valley Community Health Centers would like to take the chance to thank the Grand Forks City Council for strengthening the Smoke-free Workplace and Public Place Ordinance.

A year ago — April 5, 2010 — community policymakers made the decision to increase protections from secondhand smoke for all who live, work and play in Grand Forks.

Valley Community Health Centers serves the residents of rural Grand Forks County. We appreciate the leadership role that the city of Grand Forks has taken in respect to health, and we hope that the rural areas of the county can use this example to bring health to the forefront in their communities, too.

Strong smoke-free laws are an essential pillar of a comprehensive plan in North Dakota to decrease death and disease related to tobacco use.

These policies, in combination with evidence-based cessation services such as the North Dakota Tobacco Quitline and North Dakota QuitNet, help people make healthier lifestyle choices — not just in Grand Forks, but in the surrounding communities as well.

Julie Ludwig

Ludwig is community resource coordinator at Valley Community Health Centers.

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